TNAG-0640-FCO40-788-Visits-of-nuclear-powered-merchant-ships-to-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 21

REM 23/8

Mr Makepeace (Energy Dept)

Reference.

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THE VISIT OF THE "OTTO HAHN" TO HONG KONG

1.

You will already have seen my minute of 15 August to Mr Rushford. Please now see Mr Rushford's reply to 17 August.

2. You will see that Mr Rushford argues that, because HMG has extended the 1960 Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) to Hong Kong, "one could regard such visits as that of the "Otto Hahn" as being the responsibility of the Hong Kong Government alone". This, I think, takes care of the legal question as to where responsibility would reside in the event of an accident marring the "Otto Hahn"'s visit to Hong Kong. However, it leaves undecided the question of whether or not HMG should exercise, for political reasons, a greater degree of control over the "Otto Hahn"'s visit than is laid down by the SOLAS. It will perhaps be necessary to submit on this point. One factor of importance in such a submission would turn on the question of whether or not the UK's safety standards (as employed, for example, in the "Otto Hahn"'s visit to Southampton) are any higher than, or indeed any different from, those laid down by the SOLAS. I would be grateful for your advice on this.

CODE 18-77

SS 10/76

Mr David

د و در هر نکته آب

T J David

Hong Kong & General Dept

23 AUF 1937

1. I agree.

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factual point at

Mr Doyle for his

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Richard Makepanes

23/8.

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14/10

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125/5

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